A total of 33 air samples from five balady incubators along the egg incubation process were examined bacteriologically. It has been found that high microbial population exist, especially close to or at the completion of hatching.
A significant correlation between air pollution and egg hatchabi lity was found. The hatchability rate in eggs incubated in an enviro nment low in bacterial content was superior to that of highly polluted air. Moreover, the type of organisms isolated were the same as those commonly encountered in cases of omphalitis in baby chicks.
Generally, the sanitation measures adopted in balady incubators are not sufficient and are difinitely responsible for considerable losses.